B1.2.1 Working with the natural landscape

Guidance: G1.5

Development proposals should respond sensitively to existing landform, avoiding  excessive cut and fill that would result in abrupt or artificial changes to levels. Where level  changes are unavoidable, proposals should:

  • include naturalistic solutions such as green retaining walls to enhance biodiversity

  • provide a slope or landscape bund of a prescribed width, on the platform created by  the cut and fill to complement the landscape utilised on the slope/bund to minimise  visual impact

  • explore linking landform design with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

  • ensure that undulation and slopes within open spaces form part of the designed  usage of the area and have a purpose

  • avoid steep slopes in recreational areas and explore opportunities to integrate  shallower slopes to create attractive and interesting spaces

Guidance: G1.6

Both the horizontal layout (site plan, building orientation) and vertical alignment (ground  levels, building heights, cut and fill) of proposed development should respond sensitively  to the natural landform to minimise visual impact and reduce environmental disturbance.

Development proposals should ensure that:

  • the siting and orientation of roads, buildings and infrastructure follow the natural contours where possible, minimising the need for extensive earthworks

  • vertical alignment avoids abrupt level changes by incorporating graded slopes, stepped building forms, or split-level designs

  • where visual screening is appropriate, the positioning of buildings makes use of  the existing landform ( such as ridges, hollows, or vegetation) to help integrate development into the landscape

New residential development in the background and sloping public open space in the foreground showing the position of the new homes to reflect the change in levels of the slope.

Figure 6: Shows an example of new residential buildings following the natural topography, in Scholars’ Gate, Wakefield (Guidance: G1.6)

An example how new residential development should respect the contours of the land to integrate the development.

Figure 7: Illustrates an arrangement of buildings and routes which follow natural contours (Guidance: G1.6)

Illustrative site section showing two dwellings with one at the top of a slope and one at the bottom of the slope. The dwelling at the top of the slope is cut into the slope to show as one storey at the front and two storeys to the rear. The dwelling at the bottom of the slope is shown as one upper floor storey at the rear of the dwelling and two storeys at the front of the dwelling. This demonstrates how new developments can sensitively be integrated with a site’s existing topography, ensuring that new buildings step-up with the sensitively be integrated.

Figure 8: Shows a site section illustrating how new developments can sensitively be integrated with a site’s existing topography, ensuring that new buildings step-up with the terrain rather than over dominating it (Guidance: G1.6)

Code: C1.3

Made ground must not be used to raise the ridgeline (or eaves height in the case of flat roofs) by more than one storey above the existing ground level for residential properties located at the edge of a development.

Guidance: G1.7

Development proposals should seek to minimise the off-site disposal of surplus excavated material by reusing it on-site wherever practicable. This may include incorporating the material into landscaped bunds, landform features, or other integrated site design elements.